Arizona Pushes 2017 Recruiting Class to 25 with JUCO DT Sione Taufahema
Written by Ryan Wright
Twitter: @HogManInLA
The Wildcats pushed their class back to 25 commitments on Sunday with the verbal commitment of College of the Canyons defensive tackle Sione Taufahema. The addition of Taufahema was a big under the radar win for the Wildcats.
FBS schools started checking in on Taufahema after the 6-3, 310 pound, tackle racked up 24 stops in 10 games played for the Canyons this season. The former Bishop Alemany High School (Los Angeles) talent also had 2.5 tackles for a loss and one sack during his sophomore season.
Taufahema committed to the Wildcats over offers from Arkansas-Pine Bluff, Montana State, UMass, Hawaii, and Northern Illinois. Arizona hosted Taufahema for an official visit on Dec. 9 after offering him on Nov. 28.
Taufahema posted his commitment on Twitter:
Arizona’s 2017 recruiting class has taken a different shape over the last month. On Nov. 14, IMG Academy tackle Elijah Watson decommitted leaving open a spot on the roster in the defensive trenches. The Wildcats filled the slot with a ready to play junior college tackle in Taufahema. On Dec. 4 and Dec. 11, athletes Darrian McNeal (Seffner, FL), three-star, and Greg Johnson (Los Angeles, CA), a four-star, decommitted at the respective times. The change of plans with the two standouts has not hurt the team’s recruiting rankings. Rivals sees the Wildcats class at No. 15 in the nation with three four-star recruits and 20 three-star prospects. 247Sports has the group at No. 23, No. 4 overall in the Pac-12.
Arizona Wildcats 2017 Verbal Commitment List (25)
SS Xavier Bell, 6-2, 185, Mater Dei HS, Santa Ana, CA
SS Rhedi Short, 6-1, 185, Cathedral HS, Los Angeles, CA
SS Scott Young, 6-0, 190, Helix HS, La Mesa, CA
SS Troy Young, 6-1, 190, Mobile Christian HS, Mobile, AL
CB Malik Hausman, 5-11, 168, Bishop Gorman HS, Las Vegas, NV
LB Bryce Brand, 6-1, 235, IMG Academy, Bradenton, FL
LB Joshua Brown, 6-2, 222, Long Beach Poly, Long Beach, CA
LB Delshawn Phillips, 6-1, 215, Garden City C.C., Garden City, KS
DT Kurtis Brown, 6-3, 260, Liberty HS, Bakersfield, CA
DT Austin Faoliu, 6-3, 285, Mater Dei HS, Santa Ana, CA
DT Sione Taufahema, 6-3, 310, College of the Canyons, Valencia, CA
DE Matt Leo, 6-7, 265, Arizona Wester C.C., Yuma, AZ
DE Kylan Wilborn, 6-2, 236, Notre Dame HS, Sherman Oaks, CA
OT Edgar Burrola, 6-6, 295, Desert Pines HS, Las Vegas, NV
OT Cody Shear, 6-4, 285, Sheldon HS, Eugene, OR
TE Bryce Wolma, 6-4, 235, Saline HS, Saline, MI
RB Nathan Tilford, 6-2, 190, Upland HS, Upland, CA
QB Braxton Burmeister, 6-0, 211, Country Day, La Jolla, CA
QB Rhett Rodriguez, 6-0, 190, Catalina Foothills HS, Tucson, AZ
WR Brian Casteel, 6-0, 190, Charter Oak HS, Covina, CA
WR Bryce Gilbert, 6-5, 230, Higley HS, Gilbert, AZ
WR/DE Jalen Harris, 6-3, 210, Desert Ridge HS, Mesa, AZ
WR Warren Jackson, 6-5.5, 185, Bishop Alemany, Mission Hills, CA
ATH Drew Dixon, 6-4, 195, Sabino HS, Tucson, AZ
ATH Tony Fields, 6-2, 205, Desert Pines HS, Las Vegas, NV
Photo credit: UMass Football Blog; No. 94 Sione Taufahema